Fred McLeod, former Detroit sportscaster and voice of Cavs, dies at 67

Fred McLeod, the former longtime Detroit sportscaster and current voice of the Cleveland Cavaliers, died unexpectedly Monday evening. He was 67.

The Ohio native worked 22 seasons (1984-2006) as the Detroit Pistons play-by-play announcer — the longest tenure of a TV-only announcer with the same NBA team, according to the American Entertainment International Speakers Bureau. He also served as the play-by-play voice of the Detroit Tigers for four seasons, the Detroit Lions for seven seasons and did play-by-play for the Oakland Athletics. He spent the 1979 MLB baseball season in Cleveland as well, as a TV announcer for the Cleveland Indians.

The Detroit sportscaster and reporter since 1982 hosted the Sunday night show "Sports Final Edition" on WDIV-TV (Channel 4) until 2000.

McLeod also did play-by-play duties on Fox Sports Network Detroit's coverage of Michigan high school football and basketball championships, his bio on the AEI website says.

McLeod joined the Cavaliers and Fox Sports Ohio in 2006. In addition to his play-by-play duties, McLeod was also the Cavaliers' executive producer for multimedia, providing fans behind-the-scenes access with daily updates and interviews during the season.

"The entire Cavaliers organization mourns the loss of their great friend and teammate," the Dan Gilbert-owned NBA team said in a statement Tuesday. "Fred's deep love for Cleveland and the Cavaliers was clearly evident in everything he did in and around the community and on-air during his more than 1,000 Cavalier game broadcasts. He was a true, heart-felt ambassador for the team, fans and entire greater Cleveland community."

McLeod began his professional career in 1974 at KQTV in St. Joseph, Mo., and later at WSTV in Steubenville, Ohio, WJKW-TV in Cleveland and KPIX-TV in San Francisco. He was a graduate of Pointe Park College in Pittsburgh, where he pitched in the NAIA College World Series.

McLeod received the prestigious Silver Circle Award from the National Academy of Arts and Sciences for his lifetime achievements in TV.

McLeod is survived by wife Beth McLeod, also a former Detroit TV reporter who currently works for Fox 8 in Cleveland; mother Marilyn; sister Lynn, and his three children, Sean, Jenna, Molly, according to the Cavaliers statement.